MARY COURAGE is giving freshman Senators GREEN, SEASAW and DOVE a mathematics lesson on a chalkboard. MARY COURAGE goes in-depth about the figures on the whiteboard/chalkboard as the three senators intently listen.

MARY COURAGE
So, as you can see Senators, what we end up with is W times zero equals D, where W is war funding and D equals deaths . . . No, wait, hold on. That doesn’t look right. I forgot to carry the one. And then to divide by one. Instead of isolating D, we need to subtract W from it and move D to the other side of the equation by–

GREEN
Ms. Courage, this isn’t necessary. I believe I can speak for us all when I say that math isn’t our strong suit.

It’s impossible to deny the impact The Wizard of Oz has had in terms of symbolism of the puppet master. Of course, in true Hollywood style, the man behind the curtain was lovable and small. In reality, that man is neither nice nor lovable, his influence is anything but small.

Like any good mother, Mary Courage loves her children very much. This is great news for the Senators whom she sees as her real children, not so great news for her actual children whom she sees as her employees.

The recipe for Mary Courage is a tablespoon of confidence, a teaspoon of spitfire, a pinch of vulnerability, a cup of saleswoman and a heaping handful of survivor.